Plug cap



Nov. 4 1930. H. L. STRONGSON 1,780,851

PLUG CAP Filed March 27, 1929 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Herman ,jlran sanPatented Nov. 4, 1930 HERMAN L. STRONGSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLUG CA? Application filed March 27, 1929. Serial No. 350,146.

This invention relates to electrical connecting means such as plug capsand connecters for separable attachment plugs on flexible conductorsused to make electrical connections, and may be considered broadly asterminal members for electrical conductors. The subject matter ofFigures 1 thru 7 of this application is the same as that of my earlierapplication for patent,

10 Serial No. 163,877, filed Jan. 27, 1927, al-

lowed Sept. 16, 1927, forfeited Mar. 17, 1928, renewed Sept. 12, 1928,allowed Sept. 27 1928, and forfeited Mar. 29, 1929 through failure topay the final fee.

An object is to produce a plug cap of increased durability, of lowproduction cost, having improved yielding contacts, and including meansto maintain the contact prongs in parallel relation, and for thesepurposes I make the body of elastic material and embed the contacts in anovel way to maintain parallelism.

. Electrical connecting plug caps have usually heretofore been formedofhard insu lating material. In the more commonly used types thismaterial has been frangible. Where the insulating material has beenunbreakable, the cost of manufacture has been high and has renderedthese better grade caps incapable of competing in the commercial fieldwith the cheaper varieties as far as price was concerned. Low costfrangible caps frequently chip and crack or break at the point where acontact prong is anchored,

thus loosening the prong from the base so they are not durable. a

When composed of either frangible or infrangible material, the edges ofthe base are unyielding so that the constant rubbing of the wiresthereover wears the wire insulation and eventually exposes and cuts thewire. Attempts have been made to over come this wear at the point wherethe wires enter the passage in the cap base by the provision of a coilspring which has resisted to some extent the tendency of the wires tobend over the edge, but that is objectionable m that it involves the useof an additional part which increases the cost of manufacture, islnconvenient in many instances and Y 1s less sightly, and comes apart. a

It is also well known that within the interior of the base at the'pointwhere the wires diverge for connection with the respective capterminals, it has been difiicult to prevent the wear of the insulationby the hard unyielding edges over which the wires are bent in generalservice.

On the other hand, elastic plug cap connecters have been suggested butlacked in structural arrangement by which to restore or maintainparallel relation between the contact prongs, but my invention overcomesthat difficulty.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a capfor separable attachment plugs which shall meet the requirements ofstandard practice and still avoid the deficiencies of knownconstructions mentioned above. According to the invention, this plug capconnecter is composed of an unbreakable insulating material having arelatively high degree 0 elasticity, such as rubber, whereby no injurywill result to the cap upon implngement with another substance or uponrough usage of the contacts. The contact prongs are anchored within oron the elastic material, which has the capacity of yieldin under shock,so that if a prong is struc its anchorage will not be loosened, butinstead will yield slightly and absorb the shock. If the body is struckit also yields and does notfracture.

- Also the contacts are anchored to the elastic cap in an improved waywhich insures an effective yielding contact of the cap prongs within thereceptacle contacts of a plug into which this cap is inserted, and theimproved anchorage in function insures parallelism between the capplug-in contact prongs, Tn

these respects and others my plug cap is novel and makes for the successof this new construction.

With each contact prong, there is carried, substantially perpendicularthereto, a foot support to receive the wire clamp screw, which foot may,if desired, be moulded within the elastic base so that only a relativelysmall portion thereof adjacent the clamp screw is exposed to permit anelectrical connection to be made. The feet carrying the parallelcontacts are so molded within the base or anchored to the surfacethereof that they act to hold the integral contact prongs in parallelrelation. Thus, should the contact prongs be displaced, the return ofthe elastic material between these adjacent parts, from distorted tonormal position or condition, restore the prongs to operative position,i. e., to parallel position. Furthermore, each foot is preferablyprovided, near the upstanding contact prong with an anchorage memberextending into the elastic material, in a direction opposite to that ofthe contact prong so that the prong is fulcrumed, so to speak, at itsbase within the elastic material and pivotal movement thereof is dampedor resisted by the engagement and compression and tension of the elasticmaterial in WhlCll the anchorage memher is embedded. Short stretchinsulation portions of rubber are formed between the two adjacentcontact-carrying feet to restore the contact prongs to parallel relationif distorted therefrom.

At the point where the wires enter the body or cap passage, the base maybe formed with a. flexible neck which has a degree of resiliency andelasticity and positions the wires so that they extend straight out fromthe cap, the edges of the neck yielding upon contact with the wires andaflording a relatively soft edge over which the wire may bend in agradual curve without wear on the wire insulation.

Being of elastic material, the central passage through the cap baseaccommodates itself to different size of wire conductors and affordsresilient gripping engagement which resists withdrawal of the wires andmay take the place of the set screw sometimes employed for that purposeand thus takes some of the strain off the connections.

The foregoing features are also considered as objects of the invention,and to those ends the base is made of rubber, as such material may havethe desired degree of resiliency and elasticity, is readily moulded, andhas the requisite degree of strength. The contacts may be easily mouldedand partly concealed in a rubber base for anchorage therein and functionas above related to' produce a less expensive and more durable plug cap.

While the device forming the subject matter of the present invention isreferred to in general as a cap it is to be understood that theinvention in its broadest aspect is applicable to any type of contactmeans which form end terminals on flexible conductors used to makeelectrical connections,

These and other objects of the invention 7 and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodimentofthe invention, in which:

Figure 1 shows the improved electrical plug prong feet being dotted into disclose their U relation transversely to the facing surfaces of thecontact prongs.

Figure 3 isa sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showingthe contact prongs embedded in the elastic insulating base, and showinganchorage members about which the material of the base is molded tosecure the contact-carrying feet to the cap.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing theclamp screw terminals and gradually enlarging central passage for thewires.

Figure 5 is a view of the blank in the flat from which the contact prongand foot support is formed.

Figure 6 is an isometric view' of the completed contact prong includingflat curved foot to be embedded in or anchored on surfaceof the plug capand showing the upstanding contact prong.

Figure 7 is a side elevation showing the yielding cap in distortedposition from which distortion it will return to normal shape by theinherent resiliency of the material and by reason of the novel way andposition in which the contact feet are mounted on the plug base.

Figures 8 thru 12 show improvements added in respect to a modifiednotched contact prong to receive the wire and a yieldable rib to pressthe wire into the notch; and also shows the foot on the surface of thecap.

, Figure 8 is a face view of an improved prong Contact bent up from abase or foot and shows a half-round wire receiving notch in the base ofthe prong, in one edge thereof, just above the upper surface of thefoot, and into which the wire is received when bending it around theedge of the upstanding prong to bring the wire to the clamp screw under.which it is clamped. That notch makes room for the wire and an adjacentsoft rubber rib presses the wire into the notch and the rib positivelyinsulates the wire from the other contact of opposite elec-' tricalsign.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the composite prong and foot shown in Figure8 and also of Figure 6, since the formation of E/igureifi 8 part iseffected by simply notching the prong of Figure 6.

Figure 10 1s a new of the section line Figure 12 is the same as Figure11 exceptthe wires are removed to show the ribs as flexed back againstthe notched upstanding contact.

As will be obvious from the drawing, the general shape of the capaccording to the present invention may be substantially similar to thatcommonly found on the market at the present time although changed andimproved in many respects.

ach contact element is preferably formed from a single stamping, asillustrated in Figure 5, and includes a stamping of standardconfiguration or preferably of general segmental shape, the part 11 ofwhich is adapted to be bent upwardly at right angles to a foot portionindicated as a Whole at 12 so that the foot portion lies in a planenormal to the plane-of the prong 11 Which stands up from one end of thefoot and said foot having a toe 31 at its other end. One edge 13 ofthe'foot portion is circular or segmental to conform to the periphery ofa cap base 20 so that the major portion of the foot is substantially inthe form of a segment 14 which is tapped centrally thereof as at 15 forthe reception of a terminal screw 25 and is extended by a neck 16 toform the prong carrying heel portion 17 which is in the same plane asthe foot- 12. This portion or heel 17 is also perforated as at 18 toreceive an anchorage pin member 19 about which the material of the capbase is molded. Other forms of contact elements or prongs may be moldedin the yielding base.

The cap base or body 20 is formed of a yielding insulating materialhaving a high degree of elasticity and resiliency, such as rubber, andmay be molded to the desired shape to conform generally to standardpractice. Being of soft rubber the several edges are yielding uponcontact with the wire to avoid abrasion of the insulation and wiretending to sever the wire, and furthermore the base 20 will not fractureand that means the cap is good for long service.

The body or base 20 is formed with a central passage 21 for the entry ofwires. If desired, the central passage 21 may be of less diameter thanthe normal diameter of the Wires and expand to receive the wires andcontract again and grip the Wires yieldingly to contribute'to theanchorage of the wires in the base 20. Upon diametrically oppositesides, as at 22, the central passage 21may be of increased diameter,that is, at these por tions the central passage flares or tapersoutwardly or gradually wins on the opposite sides 22 to permit the wiresto separate and be led to the terminal screws 25. This wirepassageportion 22 of increased diameter also permits the formation of a knot inthe wiring, such as is frequently tied in the wires to form a wireportion of increased size, which will not pass through the passage 21.

The yielding and tapering walls 22 of the cylindrical passage 21 thusconveniently form a restricting shoulder against which the wire knotrests and pulls. Thus the rubber cap 20 may be carried on the end of aflexible Wire with the strain on the knot rather than the screws 25 andcontact parts.

The segments or contact-carrying feet 12 may be molded in the rubberbase 20 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 so that the screws 25 areopposite one another adjacent the bevelled or tapering opening 22 of thewire passage 21 While the contact prongs 11 are disposed opposite oneanother on the narrower diameter of the passage and on the wider portionof the rubber base. The feet 12 are embedded within the molded materialcomprising the base, the face26 thereof being provided with grooves 27which lays bare those portions of the feet 14 which are proximate theterminal screws 25 so that a good electrical contact is afforded for thewires under the screw head. The groove 27 also serves asa passage orpath for the respective wires leading to the clamp screws 25 and permitsthe wires to lie substantially entirely below the surface 26. In otherwords the two contact bearing grooves or recesses 27 are simplycontinuations of the tapering passage 22. 7.

If desired, a fibre disc, not shown, of the usual kind, may be disposedover the prongs 11 and within the rim 30 of the cap to mask and insulatethe screws as will be understood, but that is an old expedient in theart-to conv ceal the exposed foot segments of the contract prong, and iseliminated by my invention because I conceal the parts by molding theminside the plug body beneath the surface 26. Y

In concealing the prong feet 12, it is note- Worthy that a small portionis left exposed under each screw head by the grooves 27 to make contactwith wires not shown which connect with the cap. a

It will be observed that the foot segments 12 lie opposite one anotherwith their edges 13 preferably inwardly of the plug rim 30 butconforming to the periphery of the cap base 20. In other words, the edge13 is defined by an arc of slightly less radius than that of the capbase 20, and the foot segment 12is positioned in the base. 20 so thatthe arc 13 and the base 20 are substantially concentric.

The rectilinear or chord edges 29 of the feet 12 are shown as disposedin substantially parallel relation separated by the longerldiameter ortapered side 22 of the wire passage. The necks 16 position the prongs 11substantially midway between the respective segmental feet 12 so thatthe prong carrying heels 17 are adjacent the reduced toe ends 31 of thefeet but spaced and insulated therefrom by the short elastic stretch ofrubber portions 32 of the base 20. Thus the feet 12 extend substantiallyin a direction normal to the plane defined by the line 44 of Figure 2and passing thru the terminal screws 25, and the feet 12 extendsubstantially parallel but on opposite sides of a plane defined by theline 33 in Figure 2 including the contact prongs 11.

In other words the two prong feet 12 are disposed transversely of'theplane 4-4, i. e., a plane parallel to the flat faces of the contactprongs. This relation imposes resistance of- 20 fered by the rubber baseto the displacement of the prongs 11 from their normal arallel position.In fact the short stretch 0 rubber portions 32 stretch or compress ifthe prongs 11 are displaced and serve to restore them to parallelposition. It is each elastic or restricted stretch portion 32,primarily, which is distorted, yields, or moves when the prongs 11 aredisplaced for instance as shown in Figure 7 and the inherent tendency ofthese 80 portions 32 to return to normal non-stressed condition due tothe elasticity of the material effects a return of the prongs 11 toparallelisms to register with the receptacle contact elements of a screwplug, base receptacle or 35 other type of receptacle. r 7

As has been pointed out hereinbefore, there is carried with each prongbase foot support 17 proximate the prong 11, an anchoring pin member 19which extends into the base 20 in a direction op osite to that of theprong 11 and slightly 0 set with respect thereto. The contact prong 11and anchorage pin 19 thus forms a lever of the first order fulcrumed inthe elastic material substantiall at or just beneath the surface 26 andthe plvotal movement of the prong 11 is damped or resisted by theengagement of the .elastic yielding nonmetallic material of the base 20with the anchoragepin 19 and should the prong be displaced for anyreason the elasticity of the material of the base 20 will tend to returnthe part 11-19 to normal upright position in the rubber base and aboveit.

In the manufacture of the cap, the prong feet or supports 14 and contactprongs 11 are either molded in the rubber base 20 or anchored to thesurface 26 and have the screws 25 run down in the holes 15. Then, uponcompletion of the molding process, the screws 25 maybe unscrewedanddepressions 33 will be formed by the screws 25 for their receptionwhen again screwed home into the feet 14. Thus a 'cap for a separableattachment plug has been provided which is itself'unbreakable and itscontacts cannot be broken out because it is formed of yielding orelastic material, such as rubber, and even though the cap strike hardersubstances there is no danger of its fracturing.

Since the upstanding prongs 11 are carried by the yielding material,even though the prongs themselves are knocked about, the base will notbe broken because the material will yield sufficiently to cushion theblow and permit the prong to be temporarily displaced as shown in Figure7 without danger of breaking or bending it or fracturing the anchorage.This yielding and elastic mounting for the prongs 11 is alsoadvantageous in that it permits the prongs to move in functionand moreeffectively register with the receptacle openings in current outletsupply devices, such as attachment'plugs, and contributes to theyielding engagement of the prongs 11 with the contacts in attachmentplug. Thus, what may be called a tolerance is afforded in manufacturewhich is a feature not possible to attain with a rigidly mounted prong,and thus exact alignment of the contact prongs 11 with the contactblades in a plug receptacle is not so essential.

The walls of passage 21 may be found to yield sufficiently toaccommodate a knot such as is frequently tied in the wires to form aportion of increased size which will not slip through the cap. The'yielding walls may conveniently form a shoulder against which the knotrests. Thus the rubber cap 20 may be carried on the end of a flexiblewire with the strain on the knot rather than the screws.

It is noteworthy that in any electric connecting device I so arrange andconstruct the parts that elastic means resists the displacement of thecontacts from parallel position. To enable this principle to be carriedout, one end of the contacts project from or stand up above the surfaceof the base or bod of the device, and the other end extends into thebody. Elastic means is included in the structure embedding the lastmentioned end, the

latter end itself including a portion preferably extending-parallel totheplan'e of greater motion or movement of the projecting or upstandingpart.

Explaining further my principle, -it is noted that the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 defines the plane of movement of the two upstanding contacts 11for it is along this line that the parallel contacts move in functiontoward or away from each other. \I therefore take advantage of that factand dispose the supports or feet 14 parallel to this line 33 representing the line of relative movement between the contacts. Thisdesign and construction creates the elastic zone or stretch andinsulating portion 32 which reacts between the adj acent support feet tohold them in normal position within the base which results inmaintaining and restoring parallelism between the outsideupstandingcontacts.

The stretching of the short rubber portion 32 quickly restores andmaintains parallelism.

Again it may simply be restated that each prong foot 14 liestransversely of a plane 4-4 which is parallel to the confronting fiatsurfaces of the upstanding parallel contacts 11 and this relativeposition of parts is new and attains a novel mode of action and enablesme to use rubber as the base part. Since the mean center of theproximate parallel upstanding contacts 11 must be diametrically oppositeeach other and include a line passing through the center ofthe wirepassage 21, I have off-set the foot support 14 from the contact 11 sothat this relationship is brought about. The support 14 extends aroundthe passage 21 while the contact 11 is adjacent the passage. In thisway, the contacts 11 are placed toward the-centerof the base adjacentthe wire passage 21 while the feet 14 are disposed outwardly away-fromthe passage toward the periphery of the base.

That general structural arrangement existing between the wire passage2122 and the metal parts improves the utility of the plug cap andfacilitates its installation. For example, each screw 25 is locatedwithin the foot baring or exposing groove 27 at the end of the longeraxis of the tapered passage portion 22 of the wire passage 21, i. e.,the screws '25 are at the endof the lengthwise passage 22. The wirepassage 21 is round or nearly so and small in size at one end of thebase 20, and is flared out and lengthwise at 22 and somewhat larger atthe other end of the base so as to form the grooves 27.

All edges are yieldable to a wire conductor which provides against wearand tear and affords long life to an extension cord made up 'with myrubber plug cap. The rubber neck 37 provides a gradual bend over a longradius for a wire cord and preserves the insulation thereof where itenters the cap. The neck 37 defines the wire passage 21 which changes inform as it progresses through the base, first flaring out to form thelengthwise passage 22, and finally terminating in two 0 positelydisposed wire receiving grooves 27 embracing and exposing the foot 12under the screw head. In these particulars my construction is novel.

. In Figures 8 thru. 12, a wire notch or groove 40 is formed in acontact prong 41 upstanding from the end ,of a foot 42. The

notch 40 is cut in that edge of the prong which is opposite a wire clampscrew 43 which is screw threaded thru the foot 42. Thus the wire W wrapsaround the edge of the prong and rests in the notch 40. The notch 40permits the adjacent heel and toe of the two feet 42 to be closelyspaced and yet leave room for the wire W to fit therebetween.

Cooperating with the notch 40, is a resilient rib 45 which liesproximate the notch 40 and this rib serves as a spacing insulationbetween the foot inner edge 29 and the edge of the adj acent heel of theother foot. The rib 45 projects upwardly from the face of the cap andbetween the adjacent prong 41 and foot 42 and is flexible and easilypressed back away from the notch 40 thus making room for the wire to bepushed into the notch 40 in the operating of wrapping the wire about theprong and carrying it to the screw 43. The rib 45 is made sufficientlythick if desired to fill in the space between the two adjacentelectrical contact parts of opposite sign, since the rib is yieldable toallow the Wire to mash it back for placement of the wire in finalposition.

Furthermore the views Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate how thecontact-carrying foot 42 is anchored to the inside face of the plug capif desired rather than mold it within'the plug as shown in the otherviews of the invention. Anchorage eyelets, rivets or other means 47 aremolded in the body of the plug and project from the surface thereof andthru holes in the feet 42 and are then spun down or riveted over againstthe feet to attach the latter to the rubber body. I have shown the metalcontact and wire connecting part mounted in two ways, first embedded inthe rubber body and second anchored to the surface thereof.

In both forms, whether molded in the cap or anchored to its surface,there is employed the short stretch of rubber to insulate the arts andhold the contact prongs in parallel.

he reference numeral 32 clearly points out the rubber portion in thefirst instance. The ribs 45 are above or cover a similar short or narrowrubber stretch portion in the second instance. The principle andstructure is the same in each instance.

The plug cap is durable and easy to attach to the wires and is easy toinsert in any standard pll'ug receptacle.

W at is claimed is:

1. An electrical plug cap comprising a soft rubber-like body providedwith a wire passage, a pair of feet of substantial length embeddedwithin the body and separated at their ends by short stretches of rubberand separated at their centers by the passage, a contact upstanding fromeach foot, and wire connecting means. 7

2. A cap for an attachment plug comprising a soft rubber-like bodyprovided with a wire passage, two feet of substantial length embeddedwithin the body and separated at their ends by short stretches of rubberand separated at their centers by the passage, a plug in contact prongon each foot, said body eing recessed above each foot to expose aportion of the same, and wire connecting means carried with each exposedfoot portion. v

3. A cap for an attachment plug comprising a soft rubber-like bodyprovided with a wire passage, two segmentally-shaped feet molded in thebody and separated at their centers by the passage and separated attheir ends by short stretches of rubber which yieldingly resist relativemovement of said separated ends, said feet including an outer curvededge and inner straight edge which centers by the passage, said feetincluding a heel and toe portion, the heel of one foot being placedadjacent the toe of the other foot, a contact prong upstanding from eachheel portion, and the rubber-like body separating the adjacent toes andheels to insulate the feet and to yieldingly resist displacement of thecontact prongs.

5. A cap for attachment plugs comprising a rubberlike body provided witha flared Wire passage, including a flexible neck through which a wirepasses, the neck serving to protect the wire from damage at its point ofentry into the body, a pair of feet carried by the body and beingseparated at their centers by the flared passage and whose ends areseparated by short stretches of rubber, a contact upstanding from oneend of each foot adjacent each short stretch of rubber, and wireconnecting means.

6. In a plug cap for electrical connections, a rubber-like body providedwith a wire passage therethru, a pair of feet of substantial lengthcarried by the body and separated at their adjacent ends by shortstretches of rubber therebetween and separated by the wire passage, acontact upstanding from each foot, said contacts being maintained inparallel relation by the rubber aforesaid. and wire connecting means.

7. In a cap to connect with electrical attachment plugs, a softrubber-like body, two feet of substantial length carried by the body andseparated at their ends by short stretches of "rubber, a plug-in contactprong on each foot, said body being recessed above each footsubstantially in the center thereof to expose a portion of the same, andwire connecting means carried with each centrally exposed foot portion.

8. In a plug cap, a soft rubber-like body, two segmentally-shaped feetattached to the body and separated at their ends by short stretches ofrubber which yieldingly resist relative movement of said separated ends,

each foot including an outer curved edge and an inner straight edgewhich disposes the in.-

ner edges in parallel spaced relation, a fiat contact upstanding at oneend of each foot and said contacts being placed between the spacedparallel foot edges, the plane of each "flat contact being disposedtransversely of the straight edge of the feet, and wire connectingmeans.

9. In a plug cap, a rubber-like body provided with a wire passage, apair of substantially long parallel feet attached to the body andseparated at their centers by the wire passage, each foot including aheel and toe portion, the heel of one footbeing placed adjacent to thetoe of the other foot, a contact prong upstanding from each heelportion, and the rubber-like body separating the adjacent toes and heelsto insulate the feet and to yieldingly resist displacement of thecontact prongs.

10. A cap for attachment plugs comprising a rubber-like body providedwith aflared wire passage, including a flexible neck through which awire passes, the neck serving to protect the wire from damage at itspoint of entry into the body, a pair of feet carried by the body andbeing separated at their centers by the flared passage and whose endsare separated by short stretches of rubber, a contact upstanding fromone end of each foot adjacent each short stretch of rubber, and wireconnecting means.

11. In a plug cap, a resilient rubber-like body of round formation andprovided with a wire passage centrally formed therein, a pair of contactcarrying feet of substantial length carried by the body and extendingover a large portion of the body to effect a good grip on asubstantially large portion thereof, wire connecting means on each foot,said feet being disposed in a plane at'right angles to the axis of thewire passage, said body having a restricted stretch portion and a ribextending between the adjacent ends ofthe feet effecting insulationthereof, anchorage means joined to' the feet and projecting into thebody to secure the feet to said body, and a pair of contacts carried bythe feet and held in parallel relation by the long length of'the feetanchored to the body.

12. In a plug cap, a-round rubber-like bodyprovided with a central wirepassage, a pair of contact-carrying feet attached to the rubber bodywith the passage disposed between the feet, a contact prong upstandingon each 7 foot, a wire clamp screw which is threaded thru each foot, andeach of said contact prongs bemg provided with a wire receiving notchformed in that edge thereof which is opposite the screw carried in thefoot, and said notch being formed at the base of the contact and closeto the foot.

13. In a plug cap, a round rubber-like body provided with a central wirepassage,

a pair of contact-carryin feet attached to the rubber body with thepassage disposed between the feet, a contact prong upstanding on eachfoot, a wire clamp screw which is threaded thru each foot,-and each ofsaid contact prongs being provided with a wire receiving notch formed inthat edge thereof which is opposite the screw carried in the foot, saidnotch being formed atthe base of i the contact and close to the foot,and a yieldable rib pro ecting upwardly from the cap surface and beinginterposed between the notch in the edge of the contact prong and theadjacent foot which is spaced therefrom. In testimony whereof I afix mysignature.

HERMAN L. STRONGSON.

